How Well Do You Listen to God?

How Well Do You Listen to God?

2005056

Topic # 1737 (doctrine)

Introduction:

A. Let’s look at a historical incident in 1 Kings 22.

B. Principle characters are:

1. Ahab – wicked king of Israel.

2. Jehoshaphat – good king of Judah.

3. Micaiah – prophet of the Lord.

4. Zedekiah – Ahab’s prophet of Baal.

5. God & the heavenly council.

C. Background:

1. Ahab was a wicked, ungodly man.

a) Queen – Jezebel. Sidonian woman who made Baal worship the official religion of Israel.

b) Ahab hated Elijah – the great troubler of Israel.

2. Ahab had been battling Assyria for years – but 1 Kings 22 opens telling us there had been 3 yrs of peace.

a) Ahab had joined up w/others & beat the Assyrians back across the Jordan.

b) Ramoth-Gilead had been one of Israel’s cities of refuge, located on the e. side of the Jordan. Settled long b/f Israel entered Canaan. The city was theirs.

3. Ahab invites Jehoshaphat to go to battle with Him. His answer: 22:4b.

I. The incident.

A. 22:5 – Jehoshaphat urges Ahab to consult a prophet of the Lord.

1. Remember – Ahab worshipped Baal & Baal’s prophets would be the one he consulted.

2. 22:6 – Called prophets of Baal together – result: no voice of descent – all united – Lord would give them victory.

3. 22:11 – Zedekiah – a leading prophet guaranteed victory.

B. 22:7 – Jehoshaphat: don’t you have any prophets of the Lord?

1. 22:8-9; 13-14

C. Before we focus on what Micaiah said – we need to focus on God.

1. 22:19-22 – God is pictured as having a mtg w/the heavenly council.

2. 22:20 – who will entice Ahab to go up & fall at Ramoth-Gilead?

a) One spirit said he would. How?

b) 2:22

3. Now back to Micaiah.

a) 22:15 – first thing he said to Ahab was that which he wanted to hear.

b) 22:16 – King did not like it. Told Micaiah to say the truth.

c) 22:17 – 2^nd thing he said.

1) 22:18-22 – heavenly council.

2) 22:23 – the Lord had proclaimed disaster.

D. They prepare for battle by imprisoning Micaiah.

E. What’s the point from this story?

1. God permitted Ahab to hear what he wanted to believe.

a) If we think God will not allow us to reach ungodly conclusions in our thinking & decisions – we deceive ourselves.

2. God always allows us to believe what we wish to believe.

a) Justify anything we want to justify.

b) Just because we call ourselves godly in no way assures us that God sees us as godly.

II. A Look at 2 Timothy.

A. Paul’s last letter. A personal letter.

1. Wants Timothy to continue teaching & stressing the apostles doctrine. 4:1-2.

2. Consider the next statement – 4:3-4.

B. What did Paul mean here?

1. During Timothy’s lifetime – there would be dangerous times coming.

2. Note 2 things from these verses:

a) People would lose the desire to hear, they would not listen.

b) People would refuse to listen to sound doctrine.

C. What is sound doctrine?

1. Sound doctrine simply means healthy teaching.

2. How is it healthy? It brings people closer to God.

a) Sound doctrine/healthy teaching is absolute truth.

b) These matters are not open to personal interpretation.

3. For example, NT doctrine teaches us:

a) There is 1 body (Eph. 4:4) not multiple bodies, and that 1 body is Christ’s church.

b) Jesus is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18)

c) God adds the saved to His church (Acts 2:47)

d) God must be worshipped in spirit & truth (John 4:23-24)

4. In matters of doctrine – we are to speak the same thing – 1 Cor. 1:10.

5. if we understand doctrine – we are to understand it alike – Eph. 5:17

D. Back to 2 Tim. 4:4

1. When people do not want healthy teaching – what do they want?

a) They want their conclusions affirmed.

b) To make sure this happens – they surround themselves with teachers they want to hear.

2. They did not have to change their desires to be transformed, because what they heard justified their desires.

III. How well do we listen to God?

A. In all ages – people have the same problem.

1. They want to hear what they have already concluded as being OK.

2. People have always wanted to hear what they agree with before anything is said.

3. In general – people have never wanted healthy teaching that brought them to a better understanding of what it meant to be closer to God.

B. The scripture tells us what we need to hear. It is the word of God.

1. 1 Thess. 2:3-6; 11b-13.

C. But beware – God allows us to hear precisely what we want to hear. How is our hearing?

1. God allows us to believe what we want to believe.

2. Are we approaching his word objectively? Honestly?

3. Are we going to let the Bible say what it says?

a) No room for I don’t agree w/that.

b) No basis for that’s not relevant to today’s generation.

4. Will we honestly apply the pattern in matters of doctrine?

a) Worship? Salvation? Authority of the church?

b) Organization of the church? Work of the Church?

c) Submission to eldership?

d) Matters pertaining to righteousness & godly living?

5. We have no right to question God! Rom. 9:20-21

D. How pliable is our heart?

1. Do we possess the type of heart that is willing to do what God wants? No matter what?

2. Are we truly willing to submit to God’s teaching? 1 Chr. 28:9.

IV. We must apply God’s teachings (sound doctrine) to the way we think & live.

A. We must be careful, lest we divorce what we believe from how we live.

1. David Chadwell: Among Christians there has occurred an enormous spiritual divorce, and that divorce causes must people who are not Christians to be totally unimpressed with us.

2. What great divorce?

3. Everyone but us can see it in our pleasures; in our greed; in the way we treat people & act outside the church building.

4. We call ourselves godly because of our religious positions.

5. We don’t call ourselves godly because of the way we think & live.

B. Do you regard yourself to be a godly person? Why?

1. Because you believe the right doctrines?

2. Or, because Jesus has changed the way you think & act?

C. Let there be no doubt that God has emphasized our need to put our religion in practice with practical daily service:

1. God has had a lot to say about people helping people; praying for people.

2. Being holy instead of living for pleasure.

3. Being pure instead of living for greed.

4. Letting Jesus be Lord instead of our desires being our Lord.

5. About letting Jesus change who we are.

Conclusion:

A. Are you willing to listen to God?

1. How open & responsive is your heart to His teaching?

2. Are you willing to accept His teachings for what they say?

B. Will you give yourself to Him today?

C. I N V I T A T I O N



How Well Do You Listen to God? 2005056 Topic # 1737 (doctrine) Introduction: A. Let’s look at a historical incident in 1 Kings 22. B. Principle characters are: 1. Ahab – wicked king of Israel. 2. Jehoshaphat – good king of Judah. 3. Micaiah – prophet of the Lord. 4. Zedekiah – Ahab’s prophet of Baal. 5. God & the heavenly council. C. Background: 1. Ahab was a wicked, ungodly man. a) Queen – Jezebel. Sidonian woman who made Baal worship the official religion of Israel. b) Ahab hated Elijah – the great troubler of Israel. 2. Ahab had been battling Assyria for years – but 1 Kings 22 opens telling us there had been 3 yrs of peace. a) Ahab had joined up w/others & beat the Assyrians back across the Jordan. b) Ramoth-Gilead had been one of Israel’s cities of refuge, located on the e. side of the Jordan. Settled long b/f Israel entered Canaan. The city was theirs. 3. Ahab invites Jehoshaphat to go to battle with Him. His answer: 22:4b. I. The incident. A. 22:5 – Jehoshaphat urges Ahab to consult a prophet of the Lord. 1. Remember – Ahab worshipped Baal & Baal’s prophets would be the one he consulted. 2. 22:6 – Called prophets of Baal together – result: no voice of descent – all united – Lord would give them victory. 3. 22:11 – Zedekiah – a leading prophet guaranteed victory. B. 22:7 – Jehoshaphat: don’t you have any prophets of the Lord? 1. 22:8-9; 13-14 C. Before we focus on what Micaiah said – we need to focus on God. 1. 22:19-22 – God is pictured as having a mtg w/the heavenly council. 2. 22:20 – who will entice Ahab to go up & fall at Ramoth-Gilead? a) One spirit said he would. How? b) 2:22 3. Now back to Micaiah. a) 22:15 – first thing he said to Ahab was that which he wanted to hear. b) 22:16 – King did not like it. Told Micaiah to say the truth. c) 22:17 – 2^nd thing he said. 1) 22:18-22 – heavenly council. 2) 22:23 – the Lord had proclaimed disaster. D. They prepare for battle by imprisoning Micaiah. E. What’s the point from this story? 1. God permitted Ahab to hear what he wanted to believe. a) If we think God will not allow us to reach ungodly conclusions in our thinking & decisions – we deceive ourselves. 2. God always allows us to believe what we wish to believe. a) Justify anything we want to justify. b) Just because we call ourselves godly in no way assures us that God sees us as godly. II. A Look at 2 Timothy. A. Paul’s last letter. A personal letter. 1. Wants Timothy to continue teaching & stressing the apostles doctrine. 4:1-2. 2. Consider the next statement – 4:3-4. B. What did Paul mean here? 1. During Timothy’s lifetime – there would be dangerous times coming. 2. Note 2 things from these verses: a) People would lose the desire to hear, they would not listen. b) People would refuse to listen to sound doctrine. C. What is sound doctrine? 1. Sound doctrine simply means healthy teaching. 2. How is it healthy? It brings people closer to God. a) Sound doctrine/healthy teaching is absolute truth. b) These matters are not open to personal interpretation. 3. For example, NT doctrine teaches us: a) There is 1 body (Eph. 4:4) not multiple bodies, and that 1 body is Christ’s church. b) Jesus is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18) c) God adds the saved to His church (Acts 2:47) d) God must be worshipped in spirit & truth (John 4:23-24) 4. In matters of doctrine – we are to speak the same thing – 1 Cor. 1:10. 5. if we understand doctrine – we are to understand it alike – Eph. 5:17 D. Back to 2 Tim. 4:4 1. When people do not want healthy teaching – what do they want? a) They want their conclusions affirmed. b) To make sure this happens – they surround themselves with teachers they want to hear. 2. They did not have to change their desires to be transformed, because what they heard justified their desires. III. How well do we listen to God? A. In all ages – people have the same problem. 1. They want to hear what they have already concluded as being OK. 2. People have always wanted to hear what they agree with before anything is said. 3. In general – people have never wanted healthy teaching that brought them to a better understanding of what it meant to be closer to God. B. The scripture tells us what we need to hear. It is the word of God. 1. 1 Thess. 2:3-6; 11b-13. C. But beware – God allows us to hear precisely what we want to hear. How is our hearing? 1. God allows us to believe what we want to believe. 2. Are we approaching his word objectively? Honestly? 3. Are we going to let the Bible say what it says? a) No room for I don’t agree w/that. b) No basis for that’s not relevant to today’s generation. 4. Will we honestly apply the pattern in matters of doctrine? a) Worship? Salvation? Authority of the church? b) Organization of the church? Work of the Church? c) Submission to eldership? d) Matters pertaining to righteousness & godly living? 5. We have no right to question God! Rom. 9:20-21 D. How pliable is our heart? 1. Do we possess the type of heart that is willing to do what God wants? No matter what? 2. Are we truly willing to submit to God’s teaching? 1 Chr. 28:9. IV. We must apply God’s teachings (sound doctrine) to the way we think & live. A. We must be careful, lest we divorce what we believe from how we live. 1. David Chadwell: Among Christians there has occurred an enormous spiritual divorce, and that divorce causes must people who are not Christians to be totally unimpressed with us. 2. What great divorce? 3. Everyone but us can see it in our pleasures; in our greed; in the way we treat people & act outside the church building. 4. We call ourselves godly because of our religious positions. 5. We don’t call ourselves godly because of the way we think & live. B. Do you regard yourself to be a godly person? Why? 1. Because you believe the right doctrines? 2. Or, because Jesus has changed the way you think & act? C. Let there be no doubt that God has emphasized our need to put our religion in practice with practical daily service: 1. God has had a lot to say about people helping people; praying for people. 2. Being holy instead of living for pleasure. 3. Being pure instead of living for greed. 4. Letting Jesus be Lord instead of our desires being our Lord. 5. About letting Jesus change who we are. Conclusion: A. Are you willing to listen to God? 1. How open & responsive is your heart to His teaching? 2. Are you willing to accept His teachings for what they say? B. Will you give yourself to Him today? C. I N V I T A T I O N